Bridge-locking mechanism.



I 0. L. REEHL.

Patented July- 6, 1915.

6 SHEETSSHEET L INVENTOR D. L. REEHL.

BRIDGE LOCKING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18. 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2- N 9 Ll.

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' WITNESSES INVENTOR Patented July 6, 1915;

0.1. REEHL. BRIDGE LOCKING MECHAMSM. APPUCA'HON FILED FEB. 18- 1915.

Patented July 6, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3- INVENTOH WITNESSES D, L. REE'HL. BRIDGE LOCKING MECHANISM.

v APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13; I915. 1,145,166. Patented July 6, 1915.

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80 f as iii/g W/W A WITNESSES V INVENTOR D. L. REEHL.

BRIDGE LOCKING MECHANISM.

- I APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18. I9I5. I 1,145,166. v Patented Ju1y6, 1915.

e SHEETS-SHEET 5.

75; 74 FIG. 7

FIG. 8

WITN z'sszs V mvzm'on D. L. REEHL.

BRIDGE LOCKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION mm FEB. 18. 1915.

l 1 4:5, 1 66. Patented J My 6, 1915 6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

FIGJO WITNESSES INVENTOR DEMPSEY L. REEHL, OF NEW BRIGHTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

BRIDGE-LOCKING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1915.

' Application filed February 18, 1915. Serial No. 9,019.

To all whom it concern.

Be it known that I, DEMPSEY L. REEHL, a

. citizen of the United States, and resident of New Brighton, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented cer- ,tain new and useful Improvements in Bridge-Locking Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the construction of locking mechanism for draw bridges, and more particularly relates to the construction of the mechanism employed in supporting and fastening the ends of such bridges in closed position relative to the approaches of the bridges to prevent movement of the bridges when in closed position, and a rail key for spanning the gap between the approaches and the movable spans, thereby maintaining a continuous rail.

One object of my invention is to provide a bridge locking mechanism having novel means whereby the bridge is secured in closed position and whereby the locking mechanism is actuated in locking and'releasingv the bridge.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bridge locking mechanism having improved means whereby the ends of a in closed position.

A further ob ect of this invention is to provide a bridge locking mechanism having novel means whereby the track rails are become apparent as it is more fully described.hereinafter and pointed out in the appended claims.

eterring now to the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan showing one end ofa draw bridge as tastened in closed position relative to the abutting bridge approach, with a lock and lock actuating mechanism, constructed and arranged in accordance withmyinvention.

5F Fig. 2 is a sid' elevation of the apparatus shown in F ig.-1' Fig. 3 is a plan, partly draw bridge are supported and are lockedinto locking position.

broken away, showing the wedges and locking bars, and actuating mechanism therefor, forming part of my improved apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic sideelevation showing the rail keys and wedges, and connecting gearing by which the rail keys and wedges are actuated, the rail keys being shown in retracted position. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing the 5 and rail keys being shown in retracted or section, on an enlarged scale, showing the construction of the rail key by which a continuous rail is formed, the rail key extending across .the gap between the movable and fixed rails when the bridge is in a closed position. Fig. 7 is a sectional side elevation of the end of the bridge'showing the bridge latch and operating connections. Fig. 8 is an end elevation showing the bridge latch as connected to the ends of the bridge. Fi 9 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4, the wedge mechanism being omitted to show the bridge lock, the rail keys and bridge' lock being shown in retracted or disengaged position. Fig. 10 is a plan showing the engaging wedging faces of the'wedges and shoes therefor, by which the ends of thebridge are moved laterally when necessary,

Fig. 11 is an end elevation, partly in section, showing details in t-heconstructio-n ot' the wedge and shoes mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4, the wedges 7 m'eral 2 designates one endof a draw bridge which is supported in the middle of its length on a suitable foundation or pier, and which is arranged to swing or rotate at the middle of the length of the bridge about a vertical axis. The construction ofthis middle support not forming part of this invcn tion is not shown or described in detail.

The end 2 of the bridge is shown in closed position opposite one of the bridge approaches 3. T he bridge shown is a railroad bridge provided with parallel track rails 4, 4, which are laid on wooden ties 5, 5, in the usual known manner, with the ends of the ties connected together at each side of the bridge by longitudinal wooden stringers or guard rails 6, 6. The track rails 7, 7, on the abutments or approaches 3 are spiked or otherwise fastened to ties 8 so as'to aline' with the track rails 4, 4, these also being connected at their ends by longitudinal girders 11 connected to the ends of the girder-s10, are framed into or fastened to bridge trusses 12, 12, which extend lengthwise parallel with the girders 10, 10, (see Fig. 3). One side of the head of the track railsv r, 4, is cut away for :1 short distance inward from the end of each of these rails, and the heads of the rails 7, 7, at the abut.- ting ends of the track rails on the bridge approaches 3, are cutaway for a short distance in fa similar manner.

The abutting ends of the rails 4c and 7 are seated in rail chairs 13 and 14 which are bolted respectively to the ties 5 at the ends of the swinging bridge span and to ties 8.

at the abutting ends of the bridge approaches 3. Mounted in the grooves 15 formed in the upper faces of these chairs, on the cnt-away side of the heads of the rails 4, the rails forming one side of the grooves, are horizontally extending, lengthwise reciprocating rail .keys 16. The rail keys 16, (as will be seen by reference to Fig. 6) have a projecting lug 17 on one side which extends into the under-cut groove formed by the sloping under face 18 of the rail head and the face 19 forming the bottom of the groove 15, so as to prevent vertical lifting movement of the sliding rail keys 16 in the. grooves or seats 15. Each of the two rail keys 16 is pivotally connected at one end by' a link 20 to the swinging end of a bent rocking arm or lever 21, and the levers 21 are keyed or otherwise fastened by one end to the hori-v zontal rocking shaft 22. The shaft 22 is mounted in bearings 23, 23, which are fastened to the under side of the stringers or guard rai-ls 6, 6. on the ends of the rail ties 5. and one end of the shaft 22 is provided with a forked arm or lever 24 which is pivotallv connected by a link 25 to the swinging end of a lever 26 on the gear. shaft 27. The shaft 27, which forms part of the lock and wedge actuating mechanism, is made 'in sections. the sections being connected by any approved form of couplin and one section of this shaft'QTis mounted in bcariuj 9s, 28, in the gear stand or housing 39 which is secured at its ends to the channel beams 36 extending between and framed to the bridge girders 10, 10. The out r end of the shaft 27. to which the forked lever 26 is secured, is mounted in a bearing 31 on the bracket 32 which is conveniently f: stened on 'one side of the web ofonc bridge girder it).

liein-A ah the ends of the transverse girders 11 and bridge trusses 12 are wedging shoes 33, 33, which are secured to the bottom flanges of the trusses and girders, and secured on a foundation 34 forming part of the approach 3 below the shoes 33, are chairs or bearing stands which are positioned to clear the reciprocating wedges 36 movably secured to the shoes 33, when these wedges are withdrawn into disengaged or retracted position. The wedges 36 are movably mounted to slide on the lower face of the shoes 33, and when in advanced or operative position engage the opposite faces ofthe shoes 33 and bearing stands or chairs 35, and wedge the ends 2 of the bridge in position, so any verti-' cally downward movement or deflection of the ends of the bridge 1s avoldedwhen the bridge 1s locked in closed pos1t1o'n.- The wedges 36 are pivotally connected by ad-- justable links 37 to the swinging ends of rocking arms 3S. The links 37 are made in sections, and the abutting screw threaded ends of the link sections are connected by a sleeve nut 39 which permits the links being adjusted to length. The rocking arms 38 are secured. to shafts *1-0, of which there are two, .which are mounted in suspended bearings 41, 11, fastened to the bearing plates 42 framed tothetrusses 12, 12, of the bridge structure.

.lieneathone end of the transverse girder 11, adjacent to one of the wedge guides 33 is a reciprocating bridge locking bar 80 which is mounted in a bearing 82 fastened to the bottom flange of the girder 11, and secured to a channel- Si or other means forming part, of the approach 3, is a socket or keeper '83 having an opening or hole into which the end of the locking bar 80 extends when in bridge locking position. The bar 80, when extended into the socket 33, holds the bridge in closed position and overcomes any tendency of the end 2 of the bridge to move upward, due to an unbalanced condition of the bridge. on its pivot or main pinions. The locking bar 80 is pivotally connected by an adjustable link 87 to the swinging end of the rocking arm 83, and the rocking arm Sh is keyed or otherwise secured on the shaft i at one side of the bridge.

l\ockiug levers or arms 43 keyed to the shafts 46, are pivotallyconnected attheir swinging outer ends by links it to the outer swinging ends of the arms 45 on the end sections of the rocking shaft 46, and th shaft 46 is mounted at its ends in pairs of bearings -l-T.fastcned to the bearing plates 4-2, 42, provided on each of the bridge trusses 12. ()wing to its length the shaft 46 is made in sections. and the adjacent ends of the shaft sections are connected by conplings 4b of any approved design.- The shaft 46 also is provided with bearings 49, 49, which are fastened to the webs of the bridge girders 10, 10, and with bearings 50,

50, in the-bearing stand or housing-29.

etwecn the bear--. 26 keyed thereon to move the lever 2 and 29, is an interbent'lever 21 from the posit-ion shown on aving five teeth on its pe- Fig. 2. into that shown in 'Fig; 4; in which in a cuss 52 on each side of the position the rail keys 16 are in disengaged- The teeth of this gear mesh with the or retracted position. Continued rotation 7 the periphery of the intermitof the shaft 57 in a clockwise direction then 53 on the countershaft andthe brings the teeth in-the gear 53 into engageiug end of the shaft ee is provided ment with the teeth in the intermittent gear in gear 55 which meshes with a 51 Ontheshaft 46,: and, turns the gear 51 athe worm wheel shaft 57. and shaft 46in a clockwise direction. This 5' ha t is-an. intermittent movement of 'theshaft 4:6,through the nae-- 0 cases 59, 59, anda series dium of the levers 45, links 44 and levers 43 1, the te this gear meshing on the shafts l0, and through the levers 38 th the teeth the gear 53 on the and links 37, moves" the wedges 36 from the-- the worm wheel on the shaft closed or Wedging position of Fig. 4 into 39 with the w" filon the end of the disengaged or retracted position shown' .l iis worm wheel in Fig. -5.i Simultaneously with the move extends lengthwise parallel with the 'ment of the wedge the shaft 46 throughthe f the bridge span from each end of lever 88 and link 87 moves thelocking bar worni sh ts 62 are connected Fig. 4 into the disengaged or retracted poa ired manner to a suitable. driving, sition shown in-Fig. 9. i s other pri ne mover {not shown). It'will be noted that in retracting the rail sectional shaft as is provided at an keys 16, wedges 36 and locking bars80, as

25 i1 mediate point in its length with a lever has been. described, the rail keys are fully 90' which is pivotally connected at its withdrawn before the commencement of any mg outer end by a link. 6 to a lever movement oft-he wedges 36 and locking bars which is mounted on one end of a 80, as Whilethe rail keys 16 are moving, the i; 1 eal shaft V The shaft 66 is teeth in the gear 53 are in engagement with 39 mounted in hearings 63 secured to the web the teeth in the rail key actuating gear 58, I 95 of the girders is, if and keyed on the shaft and the cylindrical face portion of the pein'the middle of the length of the shaft riphery of the gear 53 is sliding in a cusp is an arm 67 a double counterweight le- 52 in thewedge actuating gear-51. .After i ver which is arranged to swing freely on the rail keys 16 are Withdrawn in this manti e shaft. The rear end of the lever 68 is ner the teeth inthe gear53 then engage the 100 ovided with an adjustable counterweight teeth in the wedge and locking bar actuatand the front end of this lever isproing gear 51, and during such engagement ided with slots 70 which engage with the the cylindrical faceportion of the periphery ii in the angleconnections 72 fixed to 'ofthe ear 53 slides in a cusp 59 in the face 49 the verticallv moi 'ahle latch bar 73. The of the intermittentgear 5 8 so that there is 1-03 latch car 7 3 ante ls vertically through no movement of the rail keys 16 while the openings in sites 74: at the top and wedges 36 and locking bar 80 are being bottom of the bridge structure, and on its moved backwardly into disengaged p0S1t-1OI1. lower end is an ant-i-iiiction roller 75. The As the shaft 46 is moved in a clockwise di lever or arm 67 is positioned on the shaft rection to retract or withdraw the wedges 113 66 so that when the rail keys 16 are in re 36 and locking bar 80 preparatory to opentracted or open position the swinging end ing the bridge,.the lever 63, link 6%, .lever of the leverfi'i' will engage with the pivoted 65, and shaft 66, will ll-ft the lever 67 Junt l or pawl 7 6 .ich is fastened to one it engages the latch or pawl 76 and thereby o0 side the latch bar Y3 by angle brackets 77. raises the latch bar'73 until the lever 67; and 1115 The bridge being locked in closed posipawl 7 6 are nearly in a straight line between tioni (the position shown in Fi s. 1, 2, 3, 7 their respective shaft centers Th latch and 8) the operation of my improved lock will be maintained in this posit on o as to ing mechanism is as follows: The motor for hold the roller 73 in lifted position or withactuatiag the locking mechanism is started, drawn from the locking throat of the latch 12) and the shaftfifi and worrn 61 are caused to catch '7 8 while the bridge is swung into open rotate, therebv turning the worm wheel 60 position; When the bridge swings from the worm wheel shaft 5? in a clockwise diclosed position of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the roller.

When l't'llflled ln this direction, the. 7 5 on the lower end of the latch bar 73w1l1 1 I e meshing spur pinion ride up on one or the other of the, inclined 1 25 arms the shaft 54: in faces 85 of the latch catch 78, depending ticn, and the teeth upon thedirection in which the bridge 2 117. th '1Inii-l!1i ear m engagewith the is swung. As'the'roller 75'moves over the teet in 1 1e interni ent gear 58 and turn inclined plane the latch bar 73 1s raised. this gear so torocl: the shaft 2'? and lever sufiiciently to allow the pawl 76 to become 13o votal-center of the 80 from the closed or locking position of 3:,

' closed position.

into its open position, and after the required time interval is swung back into closed positlon. When the bridge, in movlng into closed position, reaches a position where the roller '(5 on the lower end of the latch bar 73 reaches one of the inclined surfaces 79 .of the latch catch 78, thejlatch bar 73 will be raised so as to extend its upper endabove its normal position with respect to the floor of the bridge and incidentally show the bridge operator that the bridge is about in When the closed or nearly closed position of the end of the bridge is reachedthe latch bar 73 will drop into the latch catch 78 and lock the bridge, indicating that the bridge is in closed position,

ready for actuating the wedges or lockingbar, and then the. rail keys.

The vertically movable latch bar 73 may be omitted when desired and a horizontally reciprocating latch bar constructed like the lockingbar substituted therefor, as will be readily understood. r

When there is any lateral deflection of the bridge, generally due to unequal expansion,

so the track rails 4:, 4, and 7, 7, of the bridge 2 and approaches 3 are not in exact alinement, the rails are brought into alinement by means of the lateral wedging faces on the wed es 3G and wed in faces 92. on

O 7 O b the locking bar 80, which engage respectively the wedging faces in the guides 91 on the wedge seats 85, and wedging face 93 in the socket 83, as the wedges and rail lock are being moved to closed position. The worm shaft 62 is then rotated by its driving motor in the opposite direction and through the connecting gearing turns the intermittent gear in a clockwise direction.

wedges 36 and locking bar 80 from the position shown in Figs. 5 and-9 into that shown in Fig. 4, without any movement of the gear 58 or rail key 16. After the wedges reach the Wedging position shownin Fig. 5, and

the locking bar is advanced into the locking position shown in Fi 9, the gear 51 stops and remains stationary while the-gear 53 moves the gear 58 and, through the connecting levers and links, moves the sliding bars (3 from the open. position shown in Figs. i and 5 into the locking position shown in Fig. The abere described operations-are then repeated often as necessary at the required inter-r in opening and closing apparent to those skilled in the art.

, Such. movement first turns the gear 51' to move the the bridge and in unlocking and locking the bridge in its closed position.

The advantage of my invention will be By the use of my improved bridge locking and wedging mechanism the ends of a draw bridge are securely held in closed position and the locking mechanism is actuated so as to prevent binding of the locking mechanism or deflection of the ends of the bridge- 75 Modifications in the construction and arrangment of the parts may be made withby loads passing over the bridge.

out departing from my invention. Means other than a worm and a worm wheel may be employed to connect the driving motor with the intermittent gears, and means other than a lever mechanism may be employed to connect the intermittent gears to the rails keys, wedges and locking bar actuated by said intermittent gears, means other than intermittent gears may beemplcyed in actuating v, the bridge locklng mechanism, and other changes'may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. Bridge locking mechanism comprising in combination a draw bridge, a reciprocating rail key, a reciprocating wedge, a reciprocating locking bar, and means for actuating said rail key, wedge, and locking bar, said means being arranged to advance the wedge into wedging position and the 2. Bridge locking mechanism comprising in combination a draw bridge, a reciprocating rail key, -a reciprocating locking bar,

looking bar into locking position before moving the rail key into its closed position.

and means for actuating said rail key and locking bar, said means being arranged to 1-105 locking bar from its bridge locking position.

retract the rail key before retracting the 3. Bridge locking mechanism comprising in combination a draw br1dge,a reciproeating rail key, a reciprocating wedge, a reciprocating locking bar, means for actuat-' ing said rail keys, wedges, and locking bar,

said means being arranged to advance the wedge and locking bar before moving" the rail key-toward its closed position, and a latch bar arranged to indicate when the closed position of the draw bridge is reached. 3

4:. Bridge locking mechanism compnsing in combination a draw bridge span,- a rea reciprocating locking-bar, and means for actuating said rail key, wedge, and locking.

bar, said means being arranged toadvancejy! the wedge andlocking bar before moving the rail key and retract the rail key, before retractingthe wedge and locking bar.

5; Bridge locking mechanism comprising i 1?0 ciprocating rail key, a reciprocating wedge, f

in combination a draw bridge, a rail key,

,a' Wedge, a locking bar, and means for actuating said rail key, wedge, and locking bar iniastening the bridge in closed position, said means being arranged to actuate the Wedge and locking bar in advance of the rail key in lockingthe bridge in closed po reciprocating Wedge, a reciprocating locking bar, and .means for actuating said rail key; wedge, and locking bar in pre-determined order.

,7. Bridge locking mechanism comprising in combination a reciprocating rall key, a

reciprocating locking bar, meansfor actuating said rail key and locking bar, intermittent gears for actuating said bar actuating means, said gearing being arranged to advance the locking bar into locking position before starting to advance the railkey into locking position, and means for actuating said intermittent gears.

8. Bridge locking mechanism comprising in comblnation a reclprocatingrall key, a

reciprocating locking bar, lever mechanisms for actuating said rail-key and locking bar, intermittent gears foractuating said lever mechanisms, said. gearing being arranged to actuate the lever mechanisms to move the locking .bar and rail key in 'pre-determined order in fastening and unfastening the bridge,.'an d means for driving said intermittent gears, 4

9. Bridge locking'mechanism comprising in combination a reciprocating rail key, a

reciprocating Wedge, lever mechanisms for actuating said rail key and wedge, intermittent gears for actuating said lever mechanisms, said gearing being arranged to advance the wedge into Wedging position before moving the rail key into closed or rail locking position, and means for driving said intermittent gears.

10. Bridge locking mechanism comprising in combination a reciprocating rail key,

a reciprocating Wedge, lever mechanisms for actuating said rail key and Wedge, intermittent gears for actuating said lever mechanisms, and means for driving the intermittent gears, said gears being arranged to actuate the lever mechanisms to move the Wedge and rail key in pre-determined se' quence. I

11. Bridge locking mechanism comprising in combination a reciprocating rail key,

a reciprocating Wedge, a reciprocating looking bar, lever mechanism for actuating said rail key, wedge, and locking bar, intermittent gears for actuating said lever mechanism, and means for driving the intermittent gears, said gears being arranged to advance .the wedge into Wedging position and the locking bar into locking position before moving the rail key into its closed position.

12. Bridge locking mechanism comprising in combination a reciprocating rail key, a reciprocating Wedge, a reciprocating looking bar, lever mechanism for actuating said rail key, wedge, and locking bar, intermittent gears for actuating said lever mechanism, and means for driving the intermittent gears, said gears being arranged to actuate the lever mechanism to actuate the rail key, Wedge, and locking bar in predetermined order in fastening and unfastening the bridge.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

DnMPsEY L. REEHL.

Witnesses: F. C. DUDLEY, R. A. MATHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing in Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

